Submerged vessel raising apparatus

ABSTRACT

Submerged vessel raising apparatus which comprises one or more tubes into which buoyant elements are loaded by suction, pressurized in batches, and when pressurized travel in the tube by gravity to a delivery conduit leading into the vessel to be raised, including pressurizing means by which the air in the tube is overpressurized to at least 20 pounds in excess of the ambient water pressure at the point of delivery of the buoyant elements into the sunken vessel.

United States Patent Helbig 51 Oct. 3, 1972 [54] SUBMERGED VESSELRAISING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Jim D. Helbig,'Brighton, Colo.

[73] Assignee: Cyclo Manufacturing Company,

Denver, Colo.

[22] Filed: Dec. 2, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 94,461

[52] US. Cl ..1 14/50 [51] Int. Cl ..B63c 7/12 [58] Field of Search..l14/50, 52

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,772,709 8/1930 Culbertson..1 14/50 Primary Elxaminen-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examinerl. KennethSilverman Attorney- Bertha L. MacGregor [57] ABSTRACT Submerged vesselraising apparatus which comprises one or more tubes into which buoyantelements are loaded by suction, pressurized in batches, and whenpressurized travel in the tube by gravity to a delivery conduit leadinginto the vessel to be raised, including pressurizing means by which theair in the tube is overpressurized to at least 20 pounds in excess ofthe ambient water pressure at the point of delivery of the buoyantelements into the sunken vessel.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures mEN'TEDnm 3 I972 INVENTIOILI'I JIM D. HEL IQATTORNEY SUBMERGED VESSEL RAISING APPARATUS The invention relates toapparatus for raising vessels submerged in very deep water as well as inwater of shallower depths. The apparatus employs a plurality of buoyantelements, either valved or valveless, spherical or other form, havingwalls impervious to air and water provided with means for automaticallyadjusting internal pressures relatively to external pressures topredetermined degrees.

My US. Pat. No. 3,303,808 disclose an example of valveless buoyantelements provided with very small apertures, for the purpose stated, anda pressure chamber in which the buoyant elements are pressurized andpass into a delivery conduit leading into the sunken vessel to beraised. My co-pending application, Ser. No. 8l2,l98 filed Apr. 1, 1969,now US. Pat. No. 3,602,176 dated Aug. 3|, 1971, describes valved buoyantelements for the purpose stated which automatically prevent passage ofair or water in either direction until a predetermined pressuredifferential exists between the interior and exterior of the elements,and permit passage of air or water only when a predetermined pressuredifferential between pressures internal and external of the elements hasbeen reached. Such buoyant elements, valved or valveless, have beenaccumulated in a hopper type pressure chamber and delivered to a sunkenvessel through a conduit communicating with the bottom of the chamber.

. Difficulties have been encountered due to the jamming of the buoyantelements in the pressure chamber, particularly adjacent the entrance tothe delivery conduit, obstructing the free flow of buoyant elements intothe conduit. One of the objects of this invention is to provide meansfor quick, continuous, unobstructed passage of pressurized buoyantelements into and through a delivery conduit which conveys them into asunken vessel.

q er 1329! 9?.1h9i9x92ti9r is t BFSPYIQQ erparatus including a tube-formpressurizing chamber in which buoyant elements are pressurized andconveyed to a delivery conduit without obstruction or hindrance due toaccumulation of buoyant elements during passage of the pressurizedbuoyant elements through the pressurizing chamber and conduit to thesunken vessel.

The buoyant elements employed in this apparatus are light weight, thinwalled plastic spheres which are automatically pressurized to any depthto which they are to be delivered, thereby preventing crushing as thespheres descend, and are automatically depressurized as they rise to thesurface with the sunken vessel, thus preventing explosion. Preferablythe spheres are ll inches outside diameter with a five thirty-secondsinch wall thickness, made of high density polyetheline with a netlifting force of 25 pounds. Each sphere weighs 2 pounds.

My aforementioned co-pending application discloses the employment ofvalved buoyant elements having a minimum of pounds differential internalpressure to prevent pressure variations from tide or wave action workingsmall quantities of water into the buoyant elements. The pressurechamber must be pressurized to the ambient water pressure, at the depthto which the elements are to be delivered, plus approximately psi. Theoverpressurizing is needed to overcome the built-in differential of thevalve and to reduce pressurizing time by maintaining an evenpressurizing rate as the internal pressure of the spheres approaches thepredetermined increased pressure. Therefore, another object of thisinvention is to provide means for overpressurizing buoyant elementsbefore conveying them to a delivery conduit.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 on asurface craft, and the buoyant element delivery conduit leading into asubmerged vessel.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, 10 designatesa surface craft, 11 a sunken vessel or other object to be raised, 12 aplurality of buoyant elements and 13 a delivery conduit between thecraft l0 and submerged vessel 11.

Referring to FIG. 1, an intake conduit 15 of light weight materialreceives buoyant elements 12 from a supply source for the purpose ofconveying them through an intake manifold 16 into pressurizing tubes 17,18 and 19, controlled by gate valves 20, 21, 22, respectively.Preferably, the tubes 17, 18, 19 are each 30 feet in length, of standard12 inch pipe, which serve as pressurizing chambers and also to conveythe pressurized elements 12 to a discharge manifold. The pipes have 10slope to the discharge end and are capable of withstanding internalpressures equal to the ambient water pressure at the point of delivery.

The buoyant elements 12 are slightly smaller in outside diameter thanthe internal diameter of the tubes 17, 18, 19, and are drawn by suctioninto the intake manifold 16, and through gate valves 20, 21, 22, intothe pressurizing tubes 17, 18, 19, by means of a suction blower (notshown) through suction pipe 23 and suction gate valves 25, 26, 27,respectively. Compressed air is supplied to the pressurizing tubes 17,18, 19 through an air pipe 28 communicating with a compressed air supply(not shown) controlled by pressurizing valves 30, 31, 32, respectively.After having been pressurized to approximately 20 psi. over thepredetermined bottom water pressure, the pressure in the chamber 17, 18or 19 is reduced until the pressure in the chamber equals the pressurein the discharge manifold 40, by discharging pressurized air through theblow down pipe 33, controlled by blow down valves 34, 35, 36,respectively. The buoyant pressurized elements 12 move by gravity fromthe tubes l7, 18, 19 through gate valves 37, 38, 39, respectively, intoa discharge manifold 40.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: All valves are closed anda regulated source of air is supplied to the discharge manifold 40. Thepressure in the discharge manifold is increased until it has forced allthe water out of the delivery conduit 13. At this point, the airpressure in the discharge manifold 40 and delivery conduit 13 is equalto the ambient water pressure at the depth of delivery. After all waterhas been expelled from the delivery conduit 13, the maintained pressureis such that there will be a slight discharge of air from the lower endof the conduit 13.

The loading operation is started by opening the gate valve at the upperend of the tubes 17, 18 or 19, all other valves being closed. Assumingthat loading is to begin in the upper tube 17, the gate valve will beopened. A high volume air suction blower (not shown) is manifolded tothe tubes 17, 18, 19; in this example, to the tube 17 through suctiongate valve 25. When both intake valve and suction valve are open, thehigh velocity air suction blower produces a vacuum conveying system bywhich the plastic spheres 12 can be drawn and conveyed for a distance ofseveral hundred feet from a supply source and loaded into the pressurechambers. When the pressure chamber 17 is full, the suction valve andthe intake valve for that chamber or tube are closed.

The second stage in the sequence of operations is the pressurizing ofthe spheres in the pressure chamber 17 which is pressurized toapproximately 20 pounds higher than the ambient water pressure at pointof delivery. As heretofore explained, the overpressurizing is done toovercome the differential pressure of the two way valve and to force thebuoyant elements to take on air at a faster rate. During thepressurizing the spheres actually become internally pressurized to atleast 5 pounds above the ambient water pressure. When the spheres 12 intube 17 are being pressurized, the pressurizing valve is open andpressurized air is forced through pipe 28, valve 30, into tube 17.

The third stage is to discharge the pressurized elements 12 into thedischarge manifold 40 through discharge gate valve 37, and from themanifold 40 to the delivery conduit 13. First the pressure chamber 17 isdepressurized to equal bottom pressure by means of the blow down pipe 33through blow down valve 34, until the pressure essentially equals thatin the discharge manifold 40, and then the gate valve 37 at the lowerend of the pressure chamber is opened. Due to the slope of the tubes l7,18, 19 the spheres move by gravity out of the tubes through thedischarge manifold 40 and air filled delivery conduit 13. When thepressure chamber 17 is empty, the discharge valve 37 is closed and theblow down valve 34 is opened to atmosphere, thus completing the cycle.

It will be understood, of course, from the foregoing description ofoperation with respect to the loading and pressurizing of buoyantelements 12 in the tube 17, by means of intake valve 20, suction valve25, pressurizing valve 30, blow down valve 34 and discharge valve 37,that the corresponding operations are performed with respect to loadingand pressurizing tube 18 by intake valve 21, suction valve 26,pressurizing valve 31, blow down valve 35 and discharge valve 38; andwith respect to tube 19 by intake valve 22, suction valve 27,pressurizing valve 32, blow down valve 36 and discharge valve 39. Thusbuoyant elements pressurized in tube 17 will be discharged into manifold40 while other buoyant elements are being pressurized in tube 18, andstill other elements are being loaded into tube 19. While a singlepressurizing chamber or tube can accomplish the described operation, inorder to increase delivery capacity, the three tube arrangement ispreferred, whereby one tube is being loaded by means of the vacuumsystem while another tube is being pressurized and while the third tubeis discharging pressurized spheres. By proper cycling with the threetube system, 50 to 70 tons of buoyancy can be delivered per hour.

I claim:

1. Submerged vessel raising apparatus comprising a. a plurality ofbuoyant elements which automatically prevent passage of air or waterinto or out of said elements until a predetermined pressure differentialexists between the interior and exterior of the elements and permitpassage of air or water only when a predetermined pressure differentialbetween pressures internal and external of the elements has beenreached,

b. a plurality of surface-located tubes inclined downwardly from theirintake ends to their discharge ends, each having inner diametersslightly larger than the outer diameterv of the buoyant elements,

0. an intake manifold connected to said plurality of tubes at theirintake ends,

d. a discharge manifold connected to said plurality of tubes at theirdischarge ends,

e. means loading the buoyant elements into the intake manifold and fromsaid intake manifold into each of said tubes,

f. valve means closing each tube at both ends when filled to provide apressure chamber in said tube,

g. means pressurizing the pressure chamber and the buoyant elements insaid tube in excess of the ambient water pressure at the depth to whichthe elements are to be delivered,

h. a delivery conduit in communication with the discharge manifold andthe submerged vessel to be raised,

i. means increasing the air pressure in the discharge manifold until ithas forced all water out of the delivery conduit,

j. means controlling the air pressure in the discharge manifold anddelivery conduit to equal the water pressure at depth of delivery,

k. a blow down pipe and valve reducing the air pressure in thepressurizing chamber of the tube, after the buoyant elements thereinhave been over-pressurized, until the pressure in the chamber equals thepressure in the discharge manifold, and

l. valve means opening the tubes successively and allowing pressurizedbuoyant elements to travel into the discharge manifold.

2. The apparatus defined by claim 1, in which the plurality of tubescomprises at least three tubes, and the means pressurizing the pressurechamber in one tube is activated while another tube is receiving buoyantelements from the intake manifold and a third tube is dischargingbuoyant elements into the discharge manifold.

3. The apparatus defined by claim 1, in which the means pressurizing thepressure chamber in each tube pressurizes said chamber to at least 20pounds in excess of the ambient water pressure at depth of delivery.

4. The apparatus defined by claim 1, in which the buoyant elements arevalved light weight plastic spheres.

5. The apparatus defined by claim 1, in which the means loading thebuoyant elements into the intake manifold and from said intake manifoldinto each of said tubes is suction means connected to each of said tubesnear its intake end.

6. The method of raising submerged vessels which comprises the steps ofloading a plurality of buoyant elements into an elongated tube inclinedto a horizontal plane having an internal diameter slightly larger thanthe diameter of the buoyant elements, said elements having wallsimpervious to air and water provided with means for automaticallyadjusting internal pressures to external pressures to predetermineddegrees, closing said tube and converting it into a pressure chamberwhen filled with buoyant elements, air-pressurizing the chamber and thebuoyant elements therein in excess of the ambient water pressure at thedepth to which the elements are to be delivered, increasing air pressurein a delivery conduit connected to said tube and leading into thesubmerged vessel until all water has been forced out of the conduit,controlling the air pressure in the delivery conduit to equal the waterpressure at depth of delivery, reducing the air pressure in thepressurizing chamber of the tube after the buoyant elements therein havebeen overpressurized until the pressure equals the pressure in thedelivery conduit, and opening the tube and allowing the pressurizedbuoyant elements to travel into the delivery conduit.

7. The method of raising submerged vessels which comprises loading aplurality of buoyant elements into an intake manifold connected to atleast three elongated tubes inclined relatively to a horizontal planeand having an internal diameter slightly larger than the diameter of thebuoyant elements, said elements having walls impervious to air and waterprovided with means for automatically adjusting internal pressures toexternal pressures to predetermined degrees, moving said buoyantelements from the intake manifold into said tubes, successively, closingeach of said tubes and converting it into a pressure chamber when filledwith buoyant elements, air-pressurizing the chamber and the buoyantelements therein in excess of the ambient water pressure at the depth towhich the elements are to be delivered, increasing air pressure in adischarge manifold connected to said tubes and in a delivery conduitconnected to said discharge manifold and leading into the submergedvessel until all water has been forced out of the conduit, controllingthe air pressure in the discharge manifold and delivery conduit to equalthe water pressure at depth of delivery, reducing the air pressure inthe pressurizing chamber of the tube after the buoyant elements thereinhave been over-pressurized until the pressure in the chamber equals thepressure in the discharge manifold and delivery conduit, and opening thetube and allowing the pressurized buoyant elements to travel into thedelivery conduit, each tube being loaded with buoyant elements whileanother tube and its contents are being pressurized, and while a thirdtube is being unloaded.

8. The method defined by claim 7 in which the buoyant elements while inthe pressure chamber of a tube are over-pressurized to approximately 20pounds in excess of the ambient water pressure at the depth to which theelements are to be delivered.

1. Submerged vessel raising apparatus comprising a. a plurality ofbuoyant elements which automatically prevent passage of air or waterinto or out of said elements until a predetermined pressure differentialexists between the interior and exterior of the elements and permitpassage of air or water only when a predetermined pressure differentialbetween pressures internal and external of the elements has beenreached, b. a plurality of surface-located tubes inclined downwardlyfrom their intake ends to their discharge ends, each having innerdiameters slightly larger than the outer diameter of the buoyantelements, c. an intake manifold connected to said plurality of tubes attheir intake ends, d. a discharge manifold connected to said pluralityof tubes at their discharge ends, e. means loading the buoyant elementsinto the intake manifold and from said intake manifold into each of saidtubes, f. valve means closing each tube at both ends when filled toprovide a pressure chamber in said tube, g. means pressurizing thepressure chamber and the buoyant elements in said tube in excess of theambient water pressure at the depth to whIch the elements are to bedelivered, h. a delivery conduit in communication with the dischargemanifold and the submerged vessel to be raised, i. means increasing theair pressure in the discharge manifold until it has forced all water outof the delivery conduit, j. means controlling the air pressure in thedischarge manifold and delivery conduit to equal the water pressure atdepth of delivery, k. a blow down pipe and valve reducing the airpressure in the pressurizing chamber of the tube, after the buoyantelements therein have been over-pressurized, until the pressure in thechamber equals the pressure in the discharge manifold, and l. valvemeans opening the tubes successively and allowing pressurized buoyantelements to travel into the discharge manifold.
 2. The apparatus definedby claim 1, in which the plurality of tubes comprises at least threetubes, and the means pressurizing the pressure chamber in one tube isactivated while another tube is receiving buoyant elements from theintake manifold and a third tube is discharging buoyant elements intothe discharge manifold.
 3. The apparatus defined by claim 1, in whichthe means pressurizing the pressure chamber in each tube pressurizessaid chamber to at least 20 pounds in excess of the ambient waterpressure at depth of delivery.
 4. The apparatus defined by claim 1, inwhich the buoyant elements are valved light weight plastic spheres. 5.The apparatus defined by claim 1, in which the means loading the buoyantelements into the intake manifold and from said intake manifold intoeach of said tubes is suction means connected to each of said tubes nearits intake end.
 6. The method of raising submerged vessels whichcomprises the steps of loading a plurality of buoyant elements into anelongated tube inclined to a horizontal plane having an internaldiameter slightly larger than the diameter of the buoyant elements, saidelements having walls impervious to air and water provided with meansfor automatically adjusting internal pressures to external pressures topredetermined degrees, closing said tube and converting it into apressure chamber when filled with buoyant elements, air-pressurizing thechamber and the buoyant elements therein in excess of the ambient waterpressure at the depth to which the elements are to be delivered,increasing air pressure in a delivery conduit connected to said tube andleading into the submerged vessel until all water has been forced out ofthe conduit, controlling the air pressure in the delivery conduit toequal the water pressure at depth of delivery, reducing the air pressurein the pressurizing chamber of the tube after the buoyant elementstherein have been overpressurized until the pressure equals the pressurein the delivery conduit, and opening the tube and allowing thepressurized buoyant elements to travel into the delivery conduit.
 7. Themethod of raising submerged vessels which comprises loading a pluralityof buoyant elements into an intake manifold connected to at least threeelongated tubes inclined relatively to a horizontal plane and having aninternal diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the buoyantelements, said elements having walls impervious to air and waterprovided with means for automatically adjusting internal pressures toexternal pressures to predetermined degrees, moving said buoyantelements from the intake manifold into said tubes, successively, closingeach of said tubes and converting it into a pressure chamber when filledwith buoyant elements, air-pressurizing the chamber and the buoyantelements therein in excess of the ambient water pressure at the depth towhich the elements are to be delivered, increasing air pressure in adischarge manifold connected to said tubes and in a delivery conduitconnected to said discharge manifold and leading into the submergedvessel until all water has been forced out of the conduit, controllingthe air pressure in the discharge manifold and delivery conduit to Equalthe water pressure at depth of delivery, reducing the air pressure inthe pressurizing chamber of the tube after the buoyant elements thereinhave been over-pressurized until the pressure in the chamber equals thepressure in the discharge manifold and delivery conduit, and opening thetube and allowing the pressurized buoyant elements to travel into thedelivery conduit, each tube being loaded with buoyant elements whileanother tube and its contents are being pressurized, and while a thirdtube is being unloaded.
 8. The method defined by claim 7 in which thebuoyant elements while in the pressure chamber of a tube areover-pressurized to approximately 20 pounds in excess of the ambientwater pressure at the depth to which the elements are to be delivered.